The Chorister’s Prayer seems to have first appeared in The Choirboy’s Pocket Book, published by the School of English Church Music (the former name of the Royal School of Church Music) in 1934. Despite being so well known, the prayer is not given an author in this source (some say it was the RSCM’s founder, Sir Sydney Nicholson, while others link it to Cosmo Gordon Lang, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1929). The English version of this Prayer appears to be very close to the Latin in the Pontificale Romanum of 1595–96 in the form for admitting a Psalmist or Cantor: Vide, ut, quod ore cantas, corde credas, et quod core credis, operibus comprobes. It may be even older (perhaps 13th or 14th century).

I can vividly recall back in my treble days being admitted as a full senior treble chorister into my choir in New York City by then Rector Canon John Andrew (former Chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsay). He recited the line of the Chorister’s Prayer each to me and the other choristers being admitted that day, saying, “grant that what you sing with your lips, you may believe in your heart.” Since then, I’ve recited the Chorister’s Prayer probably thousands of times.

At the end of every weekday rehearsal and on the days our choirs sing in worship, we recite the Chorister’s Prayer together. Not only is it a wonderful way to conclude a rehearsal and to prepare for worship, it serves as a reminder that to this day we carry on the important centuries long tradition of “serving the Lord with gladness, and coming before His presence with a song.” (Psalm 100:2).

Summer Music at St. Margaret’s Church

While our choirs and ensembles are on summer hiatus, we will have several Sundays with choral music and special instrumental music from parishioners and guest musicians.

If you have been thinking about joining one of our choirs during the program year but have schedule conflicts, the summer choir Sundays on July 14 and August 18 are a great way to give choir a try. With no weekday rehearsal, those signed up to sing those mornings will meet for a short warm-up and rehearsal prior to the 9am service. The sign-up choirs are for chorale aged singers grades 6-12 and all adults. You can email me at music@st-margarets.org for more information.

All men of the parish are welcome to the next Men's breakfast sponsored by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew on Saturday, May 18 at 9:00 a.m. at Riverbay Roadhouse in the Cape Center. Speaker Jim Weekley will discuss "how a history major ended up building satellite ground systems." RSVP to Tug Knorr at tugknorr@aol.com.

Blood Drive on May 19

St. Margaret’s will be hosting a blood drive in memory of Tucker Mullen at St. Margaret’s this Sunday, May 19th. A Children’s National bloodmobile will be on site from 9:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. All the blood donated will be used to help children being treated at Children’s. The children in our area with complex medical conditions are likely to be treated at Children’s National.

History Speaker on May 20

Michael Parker, retired professor of English for 34 years at the Naval Academy, will speak at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, May 20th about "Bones of Contention: St. Margaret's, St. Anne's and the Exhumation of Governor Robert Eden." His presentation will include photographs and artifacts from our local history. All are welcome.

This summer we offer a special Children's Hour each Sunday during coffee hour (10:20 to 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall) to foster the formation of our youngest parishioners. Our Summer Children's Hour includes a gathering with clergy to discuss the Gospel Lesson of the Day and a craft/activity connected to the lesson. Our first Sunday will be June 16 and our last is August 25.

A family each week is needed to help set up for the activities and then clean up afterwards. Supplies will be organized and supplies in advance.We request that our SMC families take one Sunday during the summer to sign up for this effort.

*Do you have a high school or college graduate in spring 2019 in your family? Email us the following information in order to celebrate on June 2nd:

Full name, family connection, school from which they are graduating. Deadline is May 24th.

There WILL be youth group through the end of the school year (except for Memorial Day). Same time on Monday evenings, 6:30 p.m. in the youth room.

On Monday, June 14th there will be an end-of-the-school-year youth lock-in with Bubbleball starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending the next day at 8 a.m.

*Our youth are offered a mission experience this summer in Central Appalachia with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), for youth age 14 and up, June 23-29. Become the hands, feet, hammers and heart of Jesus making homes warmer, safer, drier in central Appalachia. Adult leaders are also needed. Cost for one week (includes transport, food, lodging, training, all materials) is $600. Contact the Rev. Matthew Hanisian,

*The Diocese is offering a youth mission to support Brethren Disaster Relief in Lumberton, NC on July 7-13, 2019. Trained construction leaders and household leaders will provide volunteer orientation and instruction on the work site, as well as meals at the volunteers' housing. Unskilled volunteers willing to learn are invited to work alongside those who are skilled and willing to teach. Volunteer housing is provided, often at local churches or community buildings.Learn more here.

*The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland offers weekly summer camps for different age groups at the Claggett Center outside of Frederick, Maryland. For more information, go towww.claggettcenter.org.

Senior High Camp: Grades 9-12, June 23-28

Middle School Camp: Grades 6-8, July 7-12

Youth Camp: Grades 2-5, July 14-19

Adventure Camp: Grades 4-8, July 21-26

Special Challenge Camp: For adults 21+ with special needs, July 28 - August 1

Camp Amazing Grace: For children grades 4-8 with families affected by the justice system, August 2-4

Camp for children grades 4-8 with families affected by opioid addiction, August 11-16

Guild Summer Luncheon on June 5

Our St. Margaret's Guild's annual summer luncheon will be held at Carrol's Creek Cafe in Annapolis on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $30 each. Purchase by check to "St. Margaret's Church" and "Guild luncheon" in the memo line. Due by May 27.

Bluegrass Mass & Parish Picnic on June 2

Sunday, June 2 - 11:15 a.m.

with Third Sunday Band

Outdoors (weather permitting)

Parish Picnic at 12:30 p.m.

Bring a folding chair or blanket for seating

Please bring a dish to share:

Last Names A-F - Bring entree dishes/chips/dips

Last Names G-M - Bring desserts/fruit platters

Last Names N-Z - Bring side dishes/salads

Hamburgers/hot dogs provided by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew

Camp Allen Coming Soon

St. Margaret's will host Camp Allen this summer, from August 5-9, 2019. It is a half-day day camp for the children of the Allen Apartments in the Parole area of Annapolis. It was founded by Wes and Arvilla Wubbenhorst as an outgrowth of the church's mission trips to Honduras over 20 years ago. We are seeking volunteers for a wide variety of roles. Whatever your interests and skill set, we have a job for you. We are looking for youth counselors, people to lead or help with crafts and activities on Monday and Tuesday, people to help with registration on Monday and Tuesday, chaperones for field trips on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and help with preparing and serving snacks and meals. Spanish speaking is not required (although very welcome!). In the upcoming weeks there will be sign-up opportunities in the parish hall, or you may contact coordinator, Sarah Hyde, at 410 562-9904 or email smhyde@aol.com.

From June to August, St. Margaret's Day School offers fun-filled day camps! Every two weeks there is a new exciting camp theme with crafts, projects, games, science explorations, and more for ages 2-10.

As we grow closer to the summer months, vacations are in the near future for many parishioners. We offer a reminder that giving regularly at St. Margaret's is an important part of sustaining the life of the parish. There are a variety of ways to continue giving even when you are away from home.

Automated giving through your bank ensures that checks are sent to St. Margaret's on a regular basis. Contact your bank to start the process of giving. (As a reminder -- we now have locked mailboxes to prevent the recent thefts we experienced earlier this year.)